Abstract

Although noble-born, the Neapolitan Gregorio Carafa was a cadet of a smaller branch of the vast Carafa lineage. Despite this disadvantage, he was able to achieve a prodigious career: after being ordained a priest, he became Abbot of the Theatin Regular clerics in Naples, General of the order in Rome and then Bishop by royal designation in Cassano and then in the diocese of Salerno. This climb through the ranks was achievable thanks to the relationships Carafa had with the viceregal power in Naples and it occurred simultaneously with the successes of his nephews' military careers. One of these nephews became involved in a duel, after which Gregorio wrote a theological treatise on monomachy. While broadly sharing the spirit of other theological essays on the subject, the piece's originality emerges especially in the judgment of the duel's legitimacy in the case of a war for the King. With his invitation to aristocrats to abandon the use of private duels in order to dedicate themselves to war in the service of the King, we can see that the position of this man of the cloth was very close to the monarchic power. It is also evident that, notwithstanding his ecclesiastical role, his sensibility remained that of an aristocrat.